The Power of Perspective

Imagine that you receive a new assignment at work. You're asked to attend an educational program in a neighboring city for a few weeks. If you do well at the program, you'll be given a large bonus and a promotion.

You're given no details about the program – just a street address and a room number. With some trepidation, you show up at the address on Monday morning. Will you be able to handle the assignment?

To your surprise, the building in front of you looks like an elementary school. You walk inside, report to the appropriate room, and find yourself in the midst of a kindergarten class.

"Welcome!" says the teacher. "We've been expecting you."

You look around the room, feeling a bit shocked. The tables and chairs are tiny. You tower over the children, who stare up at you with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Is this some sort of prank that your boss has played on you?

"Please take a seat," says the teacher. "We understand that you'll be with us for a few weeks."

Unsure what to say, you choose one of the miniature seats and try to squeeze into it. You can't quite fit under the desk. One of the children next to you laughs a bit. You smile.

"OK," says the teacher. "Now that we're all here, we're going to begin. Today we're going to talk about colors. Can anyone tell me what this color is?"

You think to yourself: Is this a joke? You shake your head at the strangeness of it all. But then you begin to think of the bonus and promotion that you've been promised. This is all that you have to do? Sit through a few weeks of kindergarten class? You know every answer to every question already! You probably know more than the teacher does.

A sense of relief – even joy – suddenly comes over you. This "challenge" is tiny compared to your capabilities. In fact, the situation is comical. You tower – both literally and figuratively – above the environment. You are absurdly greater than the challenge.

A Shift in Seeing

I share this story to illustrate a psychological concept called "perceived self-efficacy." The idea is that our perception of ourselves relative to our challenges has a great impact on our responses.

If we see ourselves as greater than our challenges, we will feel peaceful, empowered, and confident. If we see our challenges as greater than us, we will feel stressed, threatened, and anxious.

The point is that our actual skills aren't the most influential factor over us. Rather, what influences us most is our perspective.

I find this to be a very important idea. In the kindergarten story above, the environment was so absurdly skewed relative to your ability that it was easy to see yourself as empowered and capable. But in most of our life challenges, things are much more subtle.

When you approach a stranger to ask her or him on a date, how large do you perceive that challenge? When you embark on a creative writing or artistic project, does it seem bigger or smaller than you? When you give a talk to a group, how big do you see the task? When you think about starting a business, does the challenge appear greater or smaller than you?

These questions are essential to consider. And yet, very few of us ask them. We rarely question how we're seeing the challenges in our lives. They just seem to "be" a certain way. But in truth, we're choosing (if somewhat unconsciously) to see things a certain way.

Some people see the challenge of approaching a stranger to be gigantic; others see it as meaninglessly small. You'll find a similar variance with the other challenges I mentioned: writing an article or book; giving a talk; starting a business. Some people see these activities as far larger than themselves; others see them as far smaller. Their perspectives will influence their feelings, behaviors, and all other aspects of their response.

It's essential that we begin to take responsibility for our perspectives. If we see a challenge as larger than us, we'll likely find it very difficult to meet it. If we see ourselves as larger than a challenge, we'll probably feel confident meeting it. The difference between how we see our challenges and how we see ourselves is the determining factor.

Abilities

Now, some people respond to this idea by saying, "But I clearly have certain abilities in certain areas. That's what influences me – whether or not I have the abilities to meet the challenge. Not my perspective."

It's true that our abilities are important. But the interesting thing is this: There are people who have remarkable talents, but who see themselves as incapable of using those talents effectively. These people are often unable to use those talents at all. They have the abilities, but their perspective holds them back.

Conversely, there are people who have an almost complete lack of abilities in an area, but who see themselves as perfectly capable of meeting challenges in that area. These people are able to grow, develop, and thrive. Often, through practice, they end up developing the abilities they need.

So while abilities and talents are important, our perspectives are far more impactful. Do you see yourself as larger or smaller than this particular challenge? That's the most important question – not how many abilities you currently have.

Spiritual Resources

Now, I'll be the first to admit that it's not always easy to shift our perspectives. Our minds have been conditioned to a large degree; we have been taught (or have taught ourselves) that we are capable in some areas and incapable in others.

Breaking this conditioning – or past education – takes work. However, we can draw on a variety of approaches to help us in our work.

There are many psychotherapeutic tools that can help us shift our perspectives. I will write about some of these in the future. But in this article, I'd like to share a spiritual approach.

One central teaching of A Course in Miracles (and many other spiritual texts) is that we have an largely-untapped source of spiritual wisdom, strength, and inspiration within us. Like an artesian well, this inspiration simply needs room to flow forth. Once we clear the channel, it emerges on its own.

As we access this inspiration, our perspective will naturally shift. We will begin to feel the spiritual strength within us. We will begin to see its impact on others as we let it flow forth. It will elevate our thoughts and inspire our actions. As we allow this to happen, we will perceive ourselves – our true, spiritual selves – in a much clearer light. And the challenges around us will begin to seem smaller by comparison.

Accessing this inspiration is the key. We need to touch it, feel it, and let it flow through us. As we do this, our perspective cannot help but shift.

One Approach

So how do we do this? One of the most direct methods is meditation, or receptive prayer. There are countless approaches to meditation and prayer. Let me briefly share a simple one that is inspired by A Course in Miracles.

To begin this exercise, set aside some quiet time when you won't be disturbed. Close your eyes and – for a few minutes – begin to note the thoughts and feelings that are present in your mind. You might find yourself feeling irritated or anxious or restless. You might find yourself thinking about some family responsibilities, or work, or your next meal.

For a few minutes, simply observe those thoughts, letting each one take center stage before passing through to reveal the next.

Then, when you feel ready, try to "move past" those thoughts toward an experience of peace and inspiration. You might think of yourself moving through a thick forest. Each thought and feeling is like a branch or a vine. You are moving through them with active determination. Your goal is to travel past them toward a clearer space.

Follow any hint of warmth, strength, clarity, and inspiration that you begin to sense. Your intention is very powerful here. Be very clear with yourself about your goal.

Follow the sense of peace and inspiration, no matter how slight. Imagine yourself moving past those branches and vines. Then see yourself emerging out of the dark forest into a lovely, clear, open space. Perhaps you emerge into a beautiful ocean scene. Or perhaps there are rolling green hills. The sun shines in a blue sky.

Allow that sense of spacious clarity to fill your mind. Open your heart to the experience of light and warmth. Then allow that light and warmth to inspire a new perspective on yourself. That light and warmth is within you; it is a part of you. It can radiate out through you, to those who need it.

Envision that spiritual light and warmth – that clarity, peace, and inspiration – flowing through you. You might want to bring a few people to mind, and imagine yourself extending that inspiration to them. You have so much within you; so much to give. And as you give these spiritual gifts, they grow even stronger within you.

As you do this, you become what A Course in Miracles calls "a miracle worker." You become a conduit for divine love and inspiration. You begin to light up the world with your gifts. Your presence comforts others; it fills them with hope. And as you see them lifted up, your own sense of inspiration grows stronger.

This experience cannot help but shift your perspective on yourself. As you find – and extend – the spiritual glory within you, you will begin to see yourself in a much different light.

Your sense of empowerment will grow as you access the power within you. Your sense of connectedness and strength will increase as you connect with the strength within you. The inner wisdom that you possess will inspire new thoughts and solutions, and in time challenges that were once daunting may begin to seem increasingly small.

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I'd like to credit a few sources for the ideas in this newsletter. First, the concept of "perceived self-efficacy" was popularized by social psychologist Albert Bandura. I've simplified the concept significantly in this newsletter, but might write about it in more detail in the future. Many of us in the cognitive therapy tradition draw heavily on this idea.

The meditation practice that I outlined is an amalgamation of several approaches from the workbook of A Course in Miracles. Lesson 10 involves "watching" your thoughts dispassionately. Lesson 69 uses the imagery of moving through the clouds of thought to the light within. Lesson 121 involves imagining a person to whom you will extend this inner light. Lesson 47 focuses on reaching down to an experience of divine strength within you. There are countless other similar passages in the Course (and other spiritual texts) as well.

To be clear, though, specific concepts and approaches aren't the essential thing; rather, simple intention and practice are. I encourage you to experiment with your own shift-of-perspective practices, and see what you find.

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Thank you, as always, for your interest in my newsletter. You're welcome to share it with any friends who may be interested. And I invite your questions, comments, and feedback.


Blessings to you,
Dan Joseph
https://www.DanJoseph.com